In a dramatic turn of events, Governor Godwin Obaseki was escorted out of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin by a team of police officers led by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba, around 4:10 am.
Governor Obaseki had reportedly entered the INEC premises unannounced at approximately 2:00 am to protest perceived irregularities in the collation of results from several local government areas, including his own, Oredo.
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INEC officials, however, informed him that he had no right to be there, just as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had been turned away earlier. Despite this, Obaseki insisted on staying.
By 3:00 am, a joint security force, including police and soldiers, arrived on the scene. At 4:10 am, Governor Obaseki was escorted out, with security personnel urging him to leave the premises, shouting, “Leave, leave.”
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Prior to his removal, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, addressed the media, stating that Obaseki had no legitimate reason to be at the INEC office. Basiru accused the governor of abusing his office, noting, “He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here.”
Tensions further escalated around 3:30 am when APC members, led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, staged a protest demanding the governor’s exit from the INEC premises.
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Idahosa, standing outside the gate, loudly called for Obaseki’s removal, insisting that the governor was not authorized to be present.
Protesters repeatedly tried to force their way into the INEC office, banging on the gate, but were blocked by security forces, preventing them from gaining entry.
The incident has added another layer of tension to the ongoing election process in Edo State.
